Published: Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 07:18 PM.

Exotic animals were tucked in cages where they ate and slept, cared for by an exhausted but committed 62-year-old woman who struggled to keep up with the more than 100 animals she had amassed since opening the zoo 23 years ago.

Underbrush encroached on pathways through the 10-acre park. The wooden structures were rotting and close to falling down.

Visitors were few and far between.

On Saturday, after months of clean-up and renovations, the zoo reopened under the direction of the nonprofit Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. Dozens of people were lined up before the doors opened to check it out.

“The community and volunteers have really come out to support us, and we have been able to make a lot of changes in a very short time,” said Amanda Wilkerson, director of the new Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park.

All the structures had to be rebuilt. All that could be salvaged were the four-by-fours, Wilkerson said.

A lot of landscaping had to be done, such as clearing brush that had reached more than 5 feet tall.

A local veterinarian who is donating her services came twice a week to get the animals’ health back on track. Most of them were at healthy weights and in good condition, but some of the older animals needed extra care, Wilkerson said.

The exhibits were revamped to add materials that give the animals more to do. Lemurs now have tree limbs to swing from and the lion and tiger have tubes to climb through.

Several exhibits were completely rebuilt, including the home of Albert the black bear, the zoo’s oldest resident. The 500-pound bear’s new home is outfitted with black fencing, which is less harsh on his eyes, and a pool that he can soak in.

The former circus bear seemed content. He danced for the crowd Saturday.

Wilkerson said all the animals at the zoo are friendly and gregarious, which was one draw for taking it over. She said they are just as happy to have people around as the visitors are to be there.

Debbie Mattox, the one-woman show at the former Sasquatch Zoo, decided to sell it the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge last year.

She struggled for years to keep it going, but had been overwhelmed.

“She was caring for over 100 animals every day by herself,” Wilkerson said. “By taking this on, we’re rescuing the animals but we’re also rescuing her.”

Mattox bought her first exotic animal, a rescued monkey, in 1987.

State regulators showed up at her property and said she couldn’t have the monkey without the proper permits. She couldn’t part with her new pet, so she went to classes and got certified to keep it. While she was at it, she figured she might as well add a big cat or two.

One thing led to another and Mattox had a zoo on her hands, and the community loved it.

But as the years went on it became harder to manage by herself. She struggled to keep up with changing regulations and wasn’t making enough money to keep it up.

She knew she was going to have to stop, but she didn’t know how.

“I knew I was going to have to shut it down because I wasn’t capable of doing it anymore,” she said at the opening Saturday.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked around at the place.

“I’m just so glad to be able to see my animals like this,” she said.

She said it would be hard to let go after so many years, but that her tears were also of joy.

She could have sold the animals off piecemeal and made more money, but she said she was very happy with her decision to hand over the reins to the wildlife refuge and to see the place reopened to the community.

Mattox will stay on as a consultant for three years.

Albert’s old chain-link enclosure stands at the rear of the property as an example of how much zoos have evolved since Mattox opened Sasquatch.

Wilkerson said that today, not only would Albert’s old enclosure be unacceptable from a regulatory standpoint, the public wouldn’t stand for it.

“Before, zoos were more like roadside menageries of different animals,” Wilkerson said. “Now it’s more what I like to call living museums.”

When the work began to update the zoo months ago, Wilkerson wasn’t sure how they were going to pull it off.

On the first volunteer work day she wondered if anyone would show up. When she arrived there were about 50 people waiting for her, she said.

With about 200 volunteers and $30,000, they were able to get the park ready for the public, Wilkerson said.

A grant from a private foundation provided funds to buy the property. It costs about $1,500 a month to feed the animals, and that’s with all their meat and vegetables donated.

Six full-time staff members who care for the animals were on hand Saturday to make presentations and answer questions.

“We are all so happy to have a venue to bring people in on a daily basis and teach them the importance not only of our local wildlife, but also the exotics and show them ways they can respect and conserve animals across the world,” Wilkerson said.

She said she wanted to have more done when the park opened, but that it’s coming along.

The refuge hopes to redo every exhibit at the zoo as money and time allow. Several exhibits, including the ones for the sloth and the lion, are considered priorities. Plans also call for building an Asian and African animal section.

“We still have years of hard work ahead of us,” she said.

CHECK IT OUT

The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park is at 5262 Deer Springs Drive in Crestview. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The last entry is at 4 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children 2 to 10. For more information, call 650-1880. Find more information about the park on their Facebook page.

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Exotic animals were tucked in cages where they ate and slept, cared for by an exhausted but committed 62-year-old woman who struggled to keep up with the more than 100 animals she had amassed since opening the zoo 23 years ago.

Underbrush encroached on pathways through the 10-acre park. The wooden structures were rotting and close to falling down.

Visitors were few and far between.

On Saturday, after months of clean-up and renovations, the zoo reopened under the direction of the nonprofit Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge. Dozens of people were lined up before the doors opened to check it out.

“The community and volunteers have really come out to support us, and we have been able to make a lot of changes in a very short time,” said Amanda Wilkerson, director of the new Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park.

All the structures had to be rebuilt. All that could be salvaged were the four-by-fours, Wilkerson said.

A lot of landscaping had to be done, such as clearing brush that had reached more than 5 feet tall.

A local veterinarian who is donating her services came twice a week to get the animals’ health back on track. Most of them were at healthy weights and in good condition, but some of the older animals needed extra care, Wilkerson said.

The exhibits were revamped to add materials that give the animals more to do. Lemurs now have tree limbs to swing from and the lion and tiger have tubes to climb through.

Several exhibits were completely rebuilt, including the home of Albert the black bear, the zoo’s oldest resident. The 500-pound bear’s new home is outfitted with black fencing, which is less harsh on his eyes, and a pool that he can soak in.

The former circus bear seemed content. He danced for the crowd Saturday.

Wilkerson said all the animals at the zoo are friendly and gregarious, which was one draw for taking it over. She said they are just as happy to have people around as the visitors are to be there.

Debbie Mattox, the one-woman show at the former Sasquatch Zoo, decided to sell it the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge last year.

She struggled for years to keep it going, but had been overwhelmed.

“She was caring for over 100 animals every day by herself,” Wilkerson said. “By taking this on, we’re rescuing the animals but we’re also rescuing her.”

Mattox bought her first exotic animal, a rescued monkey, in 1987.

State regulators showed up at her property and said she couldn’t have the monkey without the proper permits. She couldn’t part with her new pet, so she went to classes and got certified to keep it. While she was at it, she figured she might as well add a big cat or two.

One thing led to another and Mattox had a zoo on her hands, and the community loved it.

But as the years went on it became harder to manage by herself. She struggled to keep up with changing regulations and wasn’t making enough money to keep it up.

She knew she was going to have to stop, but she didn’t know how.

“I knew I was going to have to shut it down because I wasn’t capable of doing it anymore,” she said at the opening Saturday.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked around at the place.

“I’m just so glad to be able to see my animals like this,” she said.

She said it would be hard to let go after so many years, but that her tears were also of joy.

She could have sold the animals off piecemeal and made more money, but she said she was very happy with her decision to hand over the reins to the wildlife refuge and to see the place reopened to the community.

Mattox will stay on as a consultant for three years.

Albert’s old chain-link enclosure stands at the rear of the property as an example of how much zoos have evolved since Mattox opened Sasquatch.

Wilkerson said that today, not only would Albert’s old enclosure be unacceptable from a regulatory standpoint, the public wouldn’t stand for it.

“Before, zoos were more like roadside menageries of different animals,” Wilkerson said. “Now it’s more what I like to call living museums.”

When the work began to update the zoo months ago, Wilkerson wasn’t sure how they were going to pull it off.

On the first volunteer work day she wondered if anyone would show up. When she arrived there were about 50 people waiting for her, she said.

With about 200 volunteers and $30,000, they were able to get the park ready for the public, Wilkerson said.

A grant from a private foundation provided funds to buy the property. It costs about $1,500 a month to feed the animals, and that’s with all their meat and vegetables donated.

Six full-time staff members who care for the animals were on hand Saturday to make presentations and answer questions.

“We are all so happy to have a venue to bring people in on a daily basis and teach them the importance not only of our local wildlife, but also the exotics and show them ways they can respect and conserve animals across the world,” Wilkerson said.

She said she wanted to have more done when the park opened, but that it’s coming along.

The refuge hopes to redo every exhibit at the zoo as money and time allow. Several exhibits, including the ones for the sloth and the lion, are considered priorities. Plans also call for building an Asian and African animal section.

“We still have years of hard work ahead of us,” she said.

CHECK IT OUT

The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Zoological Park is at 5262 Deer Springs Drive in Crestview. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The last entry is at 4 p.m. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children 2 to 10. For more information, call 650-1880. Find more information about the park on their Facebook page.